Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds, MLB forecast
Win probability
Starts from the pregame forecast, then moves with the score and the time left after each inning. Above the line favors CIN.
Game center
From the ESPN box score.
Top performers
Cubs- Ian HappBatting1-4
- Jameson TaillonPitching7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 K
Reds- Gavin LuxBatting2-4, 1 RBI
- Andrew AbbottPitching4.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 K
Scoring summary
- 3Lux doubled to right, McLain scored.0–1
The pick
Reconstructed from what was known before the game: the ratings at that point and the closing line.
Reds 53%
Forecast Elo ratings alone
How often that comes true: MLB favorites the forecast gave 50–55% have won 52.7% of 2,871 graded games.
- Market
- CIN 53%
- ML CHC +105 / CIN -125
- Pre-line forecast
- CIN 52%
- Elo + market-implied
- Elo ratings
- CIN 47%
- Ratings vs. market
- −6.0 pts
- CIN: Elo 47.2%, market 53.2%
- Fair odds
- CIN -114
- CHC +114 · the forecast as odds, no margin
- Pregame projection
- CHC 4.1 – 4.4 CIN
- Margin from the forecast, posted total 8.5
How the number is built
Elo inputs in rating points (higher favors that team; 25–28 Elo is about a point of spread in football and basketball), then how the pieces combine.
| Factor | CHC | CIN | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team rating | 1536 | 1506 | Elo entering the game; 1500 is league average |
| Home field | — | +18 | Worth 18 Elo in MLB |
| Starting pitchers | +9 | +2 | CHC: Jameson Taillon: team allows 0.47 fewer runs than with its usual starter (≈10 weighted starts) · CIN: Andrew Abbott: team allows 0.08 fewer runs than with its usual starter (≈10 weighted starts) |
| Elo ratings | CHC +19 Elo | CHC 52.8% | |
| Market-implied ratings | CIN 53.4% | Team strength as past closing lines priced it, same game context | |
| Pre-line forecast | CIN 52.5% | 15% Elo, 85% market-implied (log-odds blend) | |
| Forecast | CIN 53.2% | Follows the market (vig removed): in testing, adding the ratings made it less accurate | |
Tale of the tape
This season coming into the game, regular season, each number with its league rank (the longer the bar, the higher). Home and road: the host's record at home against the visitor's on the road. Opponent Elo: how strong the teams each has played are, 1st the toughest.
| CHC | Stat | CIN |
|---|---|---|
| 8th of 304.8 | Runs scored | 4.513th of 30 |
| 6th of 304.0 | Runs allowed | 4.313th of 30 |
| 5th of 30+0.8 | Margin | +0.214th of 30 |
| 9th of 306–4 | Last 10 | 6–49th of 30 |
| 4th of 3042–38 | Road vs home | 43–3314th of 30 |
| 19th of 301499 | Opponent Elo | 150211th of 30 |
| 5th of 301536 | Elo rating | 150616th of 30 |
Rating history
Each team's Elo over the last two seasons. Hover or drag to compare on any date.
Recent form
Last five results, and whether the forecast hit.
Against the line
How each team has done against the closing spread and total, coming into this game.
| This season |  CHC |  CIN |
|---|---|---|
| Run line | 72–83 | 81–74 |
| Last 10 | 6–4 | 5–5 |
| Favorite | 46–58 | 25–46 |
| Underdog | 26–25 | 55–28 |
| Overs–unders | 76–79 | 63–92 |
| Overs–unders, last 10 | 5–5 | 5–5 |
Against each game's closing line. Books set every line knowing these records: across 3,901 past games, the team with the better record against the spread so far that season covered 51.2%, short of the 52.4% a standard −110 bet needs, and over/under streaks held 48.0% of the time. They describe the past.
Head to head
CHC 16–22 CIN in their last 38 meetings; the forecast called 20 of 38.